Project Runway Season 8 Finalist Andy South Is Now Living as a Woman

Diehard Project Runway fans will remember Season 8 as "The season Mondo got robbed" or alternatively "I can't believe that bitch Gretchen won." The third finalist that season, Andy South, the soft-spoken Hawaiian with a penchant for architectural shapes, got a bit lost in the drama, but he's in the headlines today for a different reason.

Diehard Project Runway fans will remember Season 8 as "The season Mondo got robbed" or alternatively "I can't believe that bitch Gretchen won." The third finalist that season, Andy South, the soft-spoken Hawaiian with a penchant for architectural shapes, got a bit lost in the drama, but he's in the headlines today for a different reason.

Apparently Andy is now living as a woman named Nong Ariyaphon Southiphong, according to The Daily Mail. He has quietly been out and about as a transgendered person for a few months now, as an article in Expression magazine noted when she launched her collection--still under the name Andy South--at Neiman Marcus back in March.

You can see a picture of her at right. It's not clear if she's had any sort of surgery, but it's doubtless been a difficult year for the designer going through such a major transition. Luckily this is an industry that supports and celebrates LGBT people, and we wish her the best, both personally and professionally.

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1) How fantastically snarky is the editing this season? The St. Gretchen montage at the beginning of the show was classic.
2) Should we continue the Tim Gunn word-of-the-week? This week you must use “Schiaparelli-like” in a sentence. Alternatively, I’ll accept “woolly animal balls.”
3) Why didn’t Betsey Johnson do any cartwheels?
4) ”Mustache or no mustache?”--Mondo (This is a question I ask myself everyday.)
5) Was Michael’s comment: “Everyone knows you love a hot glue gun” to AJ a euphemism or not?

*spoilers everywhere!*
1) How adorable did Tim look wearing those wellies on Andy’s farm? And the catfish reaction? “I’ve never seen a Chinese man look that unattractive.” The famous Tim poise disappeared for a fleeting moment.
2) How can I live in a place where you just hack the top off a coconut when you need a drink and an adorable Laotian woman makes you a delicious dinner?
3) What do we think of Michael C’s whole “I’m gay and have a partner who outed me” scenario? Discuss.
4) Does Mondo really have a hot pink living room? I. Want. It.

*Yep, I’m saying who won. Read at your own peril.*
1) How much did the reunion segment make you miss Casanova and Peach? I’m so excited for Peach that she has a gay following. That’s a sure sign that you’re awesome.
2) Who wants to try gold metallic cat eyes after watching Collier Strong make up Mondo’s girls?
3) Was Andy’s putty-colored bathing suit as disturbing as Tim said? Ugly maybe, but I wasn’t necessarily disturbed by it.
4) When is Jessica Simpson going to get a proper stylist? The girl is stunning, but that whole ensemble was a tragedy, from hair to shoes. It looked even worse on TV than when I saw it live during NYFW. That’s all I’m going to say.
5) Did you like Gretchen’s palette? I really hated it. But I’m biased against earth tones in general. Oh, and I'm biased against Gretchen, too.

1) After last week’s emotional roller coaster, who else needed a Xanax to prep for this episode? Model switch! Cheating scandal! Old designers return!
2) Where did Gretchen get the “Hater” tag she was wearing? The producers should make her wear it for every episode.
3) Really, Project Runway? A challenge to help promote Heidi’s line of baggy sweatshirts? Shame on you.
4) Snippy much, Mondo? And Gretchen? And Ivy? Everyone took their bitchy pills last night.